Land Ethic Observe • Participate • Reflect Leaders Join us for a special Land Ethic Leaders program! November 14 - 16, 2016 at the Watershed Center (Springfield, MO)
Presented in partnership between the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks. What is Land Ethic Leaders? In A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold set forth his most enduring idea, the “land ethic,” a moral responsibility of humans to the natural world. Aldo Leopold’s land ethic idea is extremely relevant in today’s society, but it can be difficult to define, discuss, and implement. To even begin that monumental task, we need leaders who are deeply committed to rolling up their sleeves and building a land ethic at the grassroots level in communities everywhere. The workshop uses the land ethic as a powerful platform for helping leaders learn to facilitate dialog about the meaning and value of conservation in today’s world. Our “Observe, Participate, Reflect” framework is based in Leopold’s own method of helping lead his family and students in the process of developing their personal land ethic. During the two and a half day training, 20-30 participants explore and deepen their own land ethic together through outdoor observation, environmental service, and reflective discussions. Activities are largely planned and facilitated by members of the group. Afterwards, participants walk away with new relationships, tools, and ideas to inspire creative ways to bring the land ethic back home.
Why You Should Attend Environmental conservation work can be gratifying, but it can also be emotionally draining as we grapple daily with tough questions. “How do we make water valuable?” “How do we connect an increasingly urban population to an increasingly threatened natural world?” These are important questions that deserve our attention, but when we focus too much on procedure we lose sight of, or forget to ask, the reflective questions that nurture us and connect us with the deeper meaning of our work that can sustain us over time. “How do we value the natural world?” “What is responsible action?” “What do we need from nature and what does it need from us?” The “Observe, Participate, Reflect” model provides a framework to discuss these questions in a new and open way, allowing you to come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of your own views as well as those that differ, a critical skill for building a land ethic. The program will recharge you by building clarity, commitment, and community around environmental values to help carry you forward in your work. It also gives you a set of tools to help spark dialogue about the land ethic in your community, including our EMMY® award-winning Green Fire documentary about Aldo Leopold and much more.
What People Are Saying... Special Session for the Missouri Ozarks “I felt that every minute of my time was maximized by The Aldo Leopold Foundation is partnering with the Watershed Committee of the the well-wrought training Ozarks to offer a Land Ethic Leaders session designed for community and business presented. I have been leaders working in and around the Sac and James River watersheds. Leopold’s land teaching since 1975, and as you would expect, have sat ethic idea will be a powerful jumping-off point for our two and a half days together. through what amounts to The goal of this session is to bring together a wide range of participants to build new years of training and meetings, relationships and rally around environmental values and actions in Southwest Missouri. and the two days last week During the workshop we’ll be recharged and revitalized by one another, and after it we’ll were the most meaningful and go back to our work with new tools, ideas, and relationships to help us build a land valuable to me.” ethic in new and exciting ways. -2011 participant Costs, location, and Agenda “LEL is a gathering of people interested in A Metropolitan Springfield Community Innovation Grant is covering the bulk of strengthening their own program costs including program materials, meals, and a portion of the registration land ethic philosophy and fee. Participants must cover the remaining $100 registration fee* and their own travel cultivating their ability to communicate it with others. and lodging. It’s an opportunity to think deeply about paramount Workshop site: Watershed Center – Valley Water Mill Park, 2400 E. Valley Water philosophical issues within a Mill Road, Springfield, MO 65803 small thinking community gathered to evolve together. By immersing yourself in the Day 1: 6pm-8pm. Welcome and introductions, watch and discuss the Green Fire land ethic discussion, you film and meet your fellow participants. emerge with an even greater Day 2: 8:30am-7:30pm. Instruction and practice in the observe, participate, appreciation for Leopold’s week, and probably reinforce reflect model, mixed with a series of discussions with other participants. Timing the fact that most of Leopold’s includes optional dinner and social hour. signature tenets are still vitally Day 3: 9am-5pm. Additional instruction and practice, environmental service important and as relevant today as ever.” project for host site, and program planning time. -2013 participant
“The training, camaraderie *If financial assistance is needed, please contact Jeff Birchler, Watershed Center and chance for reflection Coordinator, at [email protected] or 417-866-1127. on land ethics and other important issues was time very More Information and Registration well spent. [I am] looking forward to finding ways to Visit http://bit.ly/2bG7yXv to learn more and register for this session. Contact one pass on Leopold’s land ethic and wisdom to others with an of the program facilitators below with additional questions. interest.” -2012 participant Jennifer Kobylecky, Land Ethic Leaders co-facilitator [email protected] or 608.355.0279, ext. 27 Maria Kopecky, Land Ethic Leaders co-facilitator [email protected] or 608.355.0279, ext. 38